New Bikes Appearing at Pre-Tour Tune-Ups

In years past, tech writers (a sandbox I play in now and then) would carefully watch races like the Tour de Romandie, Criterium du Dauphine (nee Libere), and Tour of Switzerland.

These races serve not only as tune-ups for Tour contenders and final auditions for riders seeking roster spots but also test-drives for new gear. This year, things are tamped down a bit with the UCI's stringent enforcement of its rules on bike designs and the new sticker-approval program.

But a few new items are already popping up.

Giant&#039;s prototype TCR Advanced SL at the Criterium du Dauphine.

(Photo: Cor Vos)

Giant is launching a new road bike this month, the latest iteration of its TCR Advanced SL frame. As this image from Cor Vos shows, it's already in play at the Dauphine under at least two Rabobank riders. (Click the image for the full-size version.)

Early race leader Lars Boom showed off his model on Giant's Facebook page, and a teaser video produced by Giant indicates the theme is something called Beyond Integration.

Nothing in the video spells out exactly what is more integrated than in the past - the existing TCR Advanced includes a seatmast, integrated headset with tapered steerer, and integrated bottom bracket. One change we can see is integrated shifter cables, but that's hardly revolutionary.

Does the brief view of a frameset with wheels hint that it may have something to do with how the wheels attach to the frame? The bikes in the Cor Vos shot above feature what appear to be standard QR skewers.

One thing we do know, from the UCI's own frame sticker approval sheet (PDF) is that Giant made the bike in both integrated and regular seatpost versions, and looks likely to sell it in 2012.

And BMC looks to have a new iteration of its Time Machine TT model coming out, which features integrated front and rear brakes and a re-imagined rear triangle. Graham Watson snapped some images specially for VeloNews.

Interestingly, as reporter Caley Fretz points out, the BMC is NOT on the current UCI approved list. That may be why Amael Moinard was riding it at the Dauphine but not Cadel Evans, who was on the standard version of the bike in Wednesday's time trial.

If the UCI wants to be hard about it, Moinard is technically riding illegal equipment and could see his results annulled. My guess is the bike is currently in testing with the UCI and will be on the list of approved bikes by the Tour de France, where the company may be launching it.

About Boulder Report

Boulder, Colorado-based contributor Joe Lindsey offers investigative journalism, analysis and humor about cycling. A popular slogan in this cycling and university town is "Keep Boulder Weird." Lindsey's certainly doing his part.